U.S. patent application number 16/292582 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-27 for shift range control device.
The applicant listed for this patent is DENSO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shigeru KAMIO.
Application Number | 20190195354 16/292582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61561932 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190195354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAMIO; Shigeru |
June 27, 2019 |
SHIFT RANGE CONTROL DEVICE
Abstract
A shift range control device switches a shift range by
controlling driving of an actuator. A plurality of control units
are configured to control the driving of the actuator. A plurality
of monitoring control units are correspondingly provided for the
plurality of control units, and configured to monitor the
corresponding control units. The driving of the actuator is
controlled by one of the control units, which is in a normal state.
When an abnormality occurs in the one of the control units being
used to control the driving of the actuator, the one is switched to
another one of the control units to control the driving of the
actuator.
Inventors: |
KAMIO; Shigeru;
(Kariya-city, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DENSO CORPORATION |
Kariya-city |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
61561932 |
Appl. No.: |
16/292582 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/JP2017/032327 |
Sep 7, 2017 |
|
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16292582 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16H 61/28 20130101;
F16H 2061/326 20130101; F16H 61/12 20130101; F16H 2061/1268
20130101; F16H 61/32 20130101; F16H 61/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16H 61/12 20060101
F16H061/12; F16H 61/32 20060101 F16H061/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 2016 |
JP |
2016-176277 |
Claims
1. A shift range control device for switching a shift range of a
vehicle by controlling driving of an actuator, the shift range
control device comprising: a plurality of control units configured
to control the driving of the actuator; and a plurality of
monitoring units correspondingly provided for the plurality of
control units, and configured to monitor the corresponding control
units, wherein the driving of the actuator is controlled by one of
the control units, which is in a normal state, and when an
abnormality occurs in the one of the control units being used to
control the driving of the actuator, the one is switched to another
one of the control units to control the driving of the
actuator.
2. The shift range control device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit used to control the driving of the actuator is
switched in every one trip, wherein the one trip is defined by a
predetermined number of a period, the period being defined by a
time interval that begins from a time a starting switch of the
vehicle is turned on and ends at a time the starting switch is
turned off.
3. The shift range control device according to claim 2, wherein the
one trip includes a plural number of the periods.
4. The shift range control device according to claim 2, wherein the
predetermined number of the period included in the one trip is
variable according to a travelling distance of the vehicle.
5. The shift range control device according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of control units are two control units, in a case where
one of the control units has an abnormality and the other of the
control units is in a normal state, the one of the control units
having the abnormality is referred to as an abnormal control unit
and the other of the control units being in the normal state is
referred to as a normal control unit, and when the starting switch
of the vehicle is restarted after being turned off, the driving of
the actuator is continued by the normal control unit without
returning the abnormal control unit.
6. A shift range control device configured to control driving of an
actuator for switching a shift range of a vehicle, the shift range
control device comprising: a plurality of microcomputers each
configured to control the driving of the actuator; and a plurality
of monitoring circuits correspondingly provided for the plurality
of microcomputers, and configured to monitor the corresponding
microcomputers, wherein one of the microcomputers, which is in a
normal state, is engaged to control the driving of the actuator at
a time, and when an abnormality occurs in the one being engaged to
control the driving of the actuator, the one is switched to another
one of the microcomputers being in the normal state to keep control
of the driving of the actuator.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/032327 filed on
Sep. 7, 2017, which designated the U.S. and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-176277 filed on
Sep. 9, 2016. The entire disclosures of all of the above
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a shift range control
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It has been known a shift range switching device that
switches a shift range by controlling a motor in accordance with a
shift range switching request given from a driver. For example, a
switched reluctance motor is used as a drive source of a shift
range switching mechanism. The switched reluctance motor is
hereinafter referred to as "SR motor".
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure provides a shift range control device
including a plurality of control units each configured to control
driving of a motor for switching a shift range of a vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present disclosure will become more apparent from the following
detailed description made with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a shift-by-wire system
according to a first embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the
shift-by-wire system according to the first embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a motor and a motor
driver according to the first embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a motor control
processing according to the first embodiment; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining switching of a
microcomputer to be used according to the first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] In a conventionally known shift range control device, for
example, driving of a motor for switching a shift range of a
vehicle is controlled by a single ECU. In such a case, if the ECU
has an abnormality, there is a fear that the motor is not driven
and a shift range is not switched.
[0012] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a shift
range control device for switching a shift range by controlling
driving of an actuator includes a plurality of control units and a
plurality of monitoring units.
[0013] The control units are each configured to control the driving
of the actuator. The monitoring units are correspondingly provided
for the control units, and each monitors an abnormality of a
corresponding control unit.
[0014] The driving of the actuator is controlled by one of the
control units, the one being in a normal state. In a case where an
abnormality occurs in the control unit that is being used for
controlling the driving of the actuator, the control unit is
switched to another one of the control units to control the driving
of the actuator.
[0015] In such a configuration, since the shift range control
device includes the plurality of control units, the control of the
driving of the actuator can be continued when at least one control
unit is in a normal state, and thus the switching control of the
shift range can be continued. As such, even if an abnormality
occurs in any of the control units, an evacuation travelling
performance can be ensured.
[0016] If one actuator is controlled using a plurality of control
units, an efficiency of the actuator may be deteriorated due to
deviation of output timings of commands from the control units. In
the present disclosure, however, one control unit is used for
controlling the driving of the actuator at a time, the efficiency
of the actuator will not be deteriorated and the actuator can be
appropriately controlled.
[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a shift-by-wire system 1 includes
a motor 10 as an actuator, a shift range switching mechanism 20, a
parking lock mechanism 30, a shift range control device 40, and
others.
[0019] The motor 10 rotates when receiving electric power from a
battery 45 (see FIG. 3) mounted on a not-shown vehicle to function
as a drive source of the shift range switching mechanism 20. The
motor 10 is capable of changing the value of current by feedback
control, and capable of changing a command for each phase. The
motor 10 of the present embodiment is a permanent magnet DC
brushless motor. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 10 includes two
pairs of winding sets 11 and 12. The first winding set 11 has a U1
coil 111, a V1 coil 112, and a W1 coil 113. The second winding set
12 has a U2 coil 121, a V2 coil 122, and a W2 coil 123.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, an encoder 13 detects a rotational
position of a not-shown rotor of the motor 10. For example, the
encoder 13 is a magnetic rotary encoder, and is constituted by a
magnet which rotates with the rotor as one body, a Hall integrated
circuit (IC) for magnetism detection, and others. The encoder 13
outputs pulse signals of A phase and B phase at predetermined
angular intervals in synchronization with rotation of the
rotor.
[0021] A speed reducer 14 is provided between a motor shaft and an
output shaft 15 of the motor 10 to reduce a rotation speed of the
motor 10 and output the rotation to the output shaft 15. In this
manner, the rotation of the motor 10 is transmitted to the shift
range switching mechanism 20. An output shaft sensor 16 for
detecting an angle of the output shaft 15 is provided on the output
shaft 15. For example, the output shaft sensor 16 is a
potentiometer.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the shift range switching mechanism 20
includes a detent plate 21, a detent spring 25, and others. The
shift range switching mechanism 20 transmits a rotational driving
force output from the speed reducer 14 to a manual valve 28 and the
parking lock mechanism 30.
[0023] The detent plate 21 is fixed to the output shaft 15 and
driven by the motor 10. In the present embodiment, a direction in
which the detent plate 21 moves away from a base portion of the
detent spring 25 is defined as a positive rotation direction, and a
direction in which the detent plate 21 moves toward the base
portion is defined as a negative rotation direction.
[0024] The detent plate 21 includes a pin 24 projecting in parallel
with the output shaft 15. The pin 24 is connected to the manual
valve 28. When the detent plate 21 is driven by the motor 10, the
manual valve 28 reciprocates in an axial direction. More
specifically, the shift range switching mechanism 20 converts
rotational movement of the motor 10 into linear movement, and
transmits the linear movement to the manual valve 28. The manual
valve 28 is included in a valve body 29. When the manual valve 28
reciprocates in the axial direction, a hydraulic pressure supply
path to a not-shown hydraulic clutch is switched to change an
engagement state of the hydraulic clutch. In this manner, switching
of a shift range is achieved.
[0025] Four recesses 22 each for holding the manual valve 28 in a
position corresponding to an associated range are formed in a
region of the detent plate 21 adjacent to the detent spring 25. The
recesses 22 are formed in correspondence with ranges of D, N, R,
and P from the base portion side of the detent spring 25,
respectively.
[0026] The detent spring 25 is an elastically deformable
plate-shaped member. A detent roller 26 is provided at a tip of the
detent spring 25. The detent roller 26 fits to one of the recesses
22.
[0027] The detent spring 25 urges the detent roller 26 toward the
rotation center of the detent plate 21. When a rotational force
equal to or larger than a predetermined force is applied to the
detent plate 21, the detent spring 25 is elastically deformed. As a
result, the detent roller 26 moves along the recesses 22. When the
detent roller 26 is fitted to any of the recesses 22, swing of the
detent plate 21 is regulated. Accordingly, the axial position of
the manual valve 28 and the state of the parking lock mechanism 30
are determined to fix a shift range of an automatic transmission
5.
[0028] The parking lock mechanism 30 includes a parking rod 31, a
cone 32, a parking lock pole 33, a shaft portion 34, and a parking
gear 35.
[0029] The parking rod 31 has a substantially L shape. One end 311
of the parking rod 31 is fixed to the detent plate 21. The cone 32
is provided at an opposite end 312 of the parking rod 31. The cone
32 has a diameter which decreases toward the opposite end 312. When
the detent plate 21 swings in the negative rotation direction, the
cone 32 moves in a direction of an arrow P.
[0030] The parking lock pole 33 abuts a conical surface of the cone
32 and swings around the shaft portion 34. The parking lock pole 33
includes a protrusion 331 engageable with the parking gear 35 and
located at a position adjacent to the parking gear 35. When the
cone 32 moves in the direction of the arrow P by rotation of the
detent plate 21 in the negative rotation direction, the parking
lock pole 33 is pushed up to achieve engagement between the
protrusion 331 and the parking gear 35. On the other hand, when the
cone 32 moves in a direction of an arrow Not-P by rotation of the
detent plate 21 in the positive rotation direction, the engagement
between the protrusion 331 and the parking gear 35 is released.
[0031] The parking gear 35 is provided on a not-shown axle in such
a manner as to be engageable with the protrusion 331 of the parking
lock pole 33. Rotations of the axle are regulated during engagement
between the parking gear 35 and the protrusion 331. At the time of
a shift range other than P range, i.e., non-P range, the parking
gear 35 is not locked by the parking lock pole 33. In this
condition, rotations of the axle are not regulated by the parking
lock mechanism 30. During the shift range of P range, the parking
gear 35 is locked by the parking lock pole 33. In this condition,
rotations of the axle are regulated.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shift range control device 40
includes motor drivers 41 and 42, microcomputer 51 and 52 as
control units, monitoring ICs 56 and 57 as monitoring units, and
others.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the motor driver 41 is a three-phase
inverter that switches energization of the first winding set 11,
and in which switching elements 411 to 416 are bridge-connected.
One end of the U1 coil 111 is connected to a connection point of
the pair of U-phase switching elements 411 and 414. One end of the
V1 coil 112 is connected to a connection point of the pair of
V-phase switching elements 412 and 415. One end of the W1 coil 113
is connected to a connection point of the pair of W-phase switching
elements 413 and 416. Opposite ends of the coils 111 to 113 are
connected to each other at a connection portion 115.
[0034] The motor driver 42 is a three-phase inverter that switches
energization of the second winding set 12, and in which switching
elements 421 to 426 are bridge-connected. One end of the U2 coil
121 is connected to a connection point of the pair of U-phase
switching elements 421 and 424. One end of the V2 coil 122 is
connected to a connection point of the pair of V-phase switching
elements 422 and 425. One end of the W2 coil 123 is connected to a
connection point of the pair of W-phase switching elements 423 and
426. Opposite ends of the coils 121 to 123 are connected to each
other at a connection portion 125.
[0035] The switching elements 411 to 416 and 421 to 426 in the
present embodiment, which are metal-oxide silicon field-effect
transmitters (MOSFETs), may be constituted by other elements such
as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a motor relay 46 is provided
between the motor driver 41 and the battery 45. A motor relay 47 is
provided between the motor driver 42 and the battery 45. While a
starting switch such as an ignition switch is turned on, the motor
relays 46 and 47 are turned on to supply electric power to the
motor 10. While the starting switch is turned off, the motor relays
46 and 47 are turned off to stop supply of electric power to the
motor 10.
[0037] A voltage sensor 48 for detecting a battery voltage V is
provided on the high potential side of the battery 45.
[0038] A not-shown current sensor for detecting a motor current Im
is provided on each of the motor drivers 41 and 42.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, a transmission ECU 7 controls driving of
shift hydraulic pressure control solenoids 6 based on a vehicle
speed, an accelerator opening degree, a driver request shift range,
or the like. The gear position is controlled by controlling the
shift hydraulic pressure control solenoids 6. The number of the
provided shift hydraulic pressure control solenoids 6 is determined
in accordance with the number of shift positions or the like. In
the drawing, the transmission EU 7 is indicated as "TCU".
[0040] The first microcomputer 51 and the second microcomputer 52
are configured to generate command signals for controlling on and
off operations of the switching elements 411 to 416, 412 to 426,
based on a vehicle speed, an accelerator opening degree, a driver
request shift range, or the like. The driving of the motor 10 is
controlled by controlling on and off of the switching elements 411
to 416, 412 to 426 according to the command signals.
[0041] In the present embodiment, when a position to stop the motor
10 is separate from a target position, the microcomputers 51 and 52
controls the motor 10 by a feedback control so as to improve
responsiveness. For example, the feedback control is a speed
feedback control in which a target speed Msp* is set based on a
difference between an actual angle .theta. of the motor 10 and a
target angle .theta.*, and the motor 10 is controlled so that the
difference between the target speed Msp* and an actual speed Msp
becomes zero. The actual speed Msp to be fed back may be suitably
subjected to a phase advance processing, or the like.
[0042] When the actual angle 6 of the motor 10 approaches the
target angle .theta.*, the microcomputers 51 and 52 switch the
feedback control to a fixed phase conduction control so as to
securely stop the motor 10 at the target position. In this way, the
motor 10 can be securely stopped at the target position while
enhancing the responsiveness. Therefore, the shift range can be
appropriately switched.
[0043] However, the motor 10 may be controlled by any methods.
[0044] An abnormality of the first microcomputer 51 is monitored by
a first monitoring IC 56.
[0045] An abnormality of the second microcomputer 52 is monitored
by a second monitoring IC 57.
[0046] In the present embodiment, the microcomputers 51 and 52 are
respectively and independently monitored by the corresponding
monitoring ICs 56 and 57, and a mutual monitoring between the
microcomputers 51 and 52 is not performed.
[0047] In the drawings, the first microcomputer 51 is indicated as
"microcomputer 1", the second microcomputer 52 is indicated as
"microcomputer 2", the first monitoring IC 56 is indicated as
"monitoring IC 1", and the second monitoring IC 57 is indicated as
"monitoring IC 2".
[0048] In the present embodiment, the shift range control device 40
is provided with two microcomputers for controlling the motor 10.
Therefore, even if one of the microcomputers has an abnormality,
the driving of the motor 10 can be kept to control using the other
microcomputer. In a case where the microcomputers 51 and 52 are
both in normal states, if the command signals for the driving of
the motor 10 are output from both of the microcomputers 51 and 52,
for example, there may arise a gap between output timings of the
command signals, resulting in a deterioration of the efficiency of
the motor 10. In the present embodiment, therefore, in a normal
time, the driving of the motor 10 is controlled by one
microcomputer. Hereinafter, the microcomputer used to control the
driving of the motor 10 is referred to as "engaged microcomputer"
and the microcomputer that is not used to control the driving of
the motor 10 is referred to as "disengaged microcomputer".
[0049] A motor control processing according to the present
embodiment will be described with a flowchart shown in FIG. 4. The
motor control processing is executed while a starting switch of the
vehicle is on. Note that monitoring processing by the monitoring
ICs 56 and 57 are executed separately from the motor control
processing. In the present embodiment, the starting switch is
referred to as an ignition switch, and hereinafter appropriately
indicated as "IG". In the present embodiment, a period from the
time the IG is turned on to the time the IG is turned off is
referred to as one trip.
[0050] In the following descriptions, it is assumed that the
processing is executed by the first microcomputer 1. In this case,
the first microcomputer 51 corresponds to "self-microcomputer" and
the second microcomputer 52 corresponds to "the other
microcomputer". In a case where the processing is executed by the
second microcomputer 52, the second microcomputer 52 corresponds to
the "self-microcomputer" and the first microcomputer 51 corresponds
to "the other microcomputer". In such a case, since the processing
is similarly executed, the description of the processing executed
by the second microcomputer 52 is omitted. Step S101 is hereinafter
simply expressed as S101, using only a symbol "S" without "step".
The same applies to the other steps.
[0051] In an initial S101, the first microcomputer 51 determines
whether the self-microcomputer was the engaged microcomputer in a
previous trip or not. When it is determined that the
self-microcomputer was not the engaged microcomputer in the
previous trip (S101: NO), the process proceeds to S108. When it is
determined that the self-microcomputer was the engaged
microcomputer in the previous step (S101: YES), the process
proceeds to S102.
[0052] In S102, the first microcomputer 51 determines whether the
other microcomputer had an abnormality in the previous trip. When
it is determined that the other microcomputer had an abnormality in
the previous trip (S102 : YES), the process proceeds to S108. When
it is determined that the other microcomputer had no abnormality in
the previous trip (S102: NO), the process proceeds to S103.
[0053] In S103, the first microcomputer 51 sets the other
microcomputer, i.e., the second microcomputer 52 to the engaged
microcomputer to be used in a current trip.
[0054] In S104, the first microcomputer 51 determines whether the
notification of an abnormality is received from the other
microcomputer. When it is determined that the notification of the
abnormality from the other microcomputer is received (S104: YES),
the process proceeds to S106. When it is determined that the
notification of the abnormality from the other microcomputer is not
received (S104: NO), the process proceeds to S105.
[0055] In S105, the first microcomputer 51 determines whether the
IG is turned off or not. When it is determined that the IG is
turned off (S105: YES), the process is ended. When it is determined
that the IG is not turned off (S105: NO), the process returns to
S104, and is kept in a standby state of waiting for the
notification of an abnormality from the other microcomputer.
[0056] In S106 executed after receiving the notification of the
abnormality from the other microcomputer (S104: YES), the first
microcomputer 51 sets an abnormality flag. In the drawing, the
abnormality flag is indicated as "X_FAIL", and in which a state
where the flag is set is indicated as "1" and a state where the
flag is not set is indicated as "0". The abnormality flag is stored
in a non-illustrated memory, and is kept even after the IG is
turned off. When the abnormality flag is set once, it is kept and,
for example, can be reset only after being repaired in a repair
shop or the like.
[0057] In S107, the first microcomputer 51 turns on a warning lamp,
which is provided, for example, in an instrument panel so as to
warn a user of an occurrence of the abnormality in the
shift-by-wire system 1. The warning method is not limited to the
lighting on of the warning lamp, but the warning may be made in any
other ways, such as by a speech guidance. Since the abnormality is
warned, the user is encouraged to bring the vehicle to the repair
shop or the like.
[0058] In S108, which is executed subsequently when the engaged
microcomputer in the previous trip was the other microcomputer
(S101: NO), when the other microcomputer had an abnormality in the
previous trip (S102: YES), when the self-microcomputer has received
the notification of the abnormality from the other microcomputer
(S104: YES, S106, S107), the first microcomputer 51 sets the
self-microcomputer to the engaged microcomputer, and computes a
command value for the driving of the motor 10, to thereby control
the motor 10 based on the command value.
[0059] In S109, the first microcomputer 51 determines whether the
first microcomputer 51 is in a normal state or not. In this case,
the determination is made based on a monitoring result of the first
monitoring IC 56. When it is determined that the first
microcomputer 51 has an abnormality (S109: NO), the process
proceeds to S112. When it is determined that the first
microcomputer 51 is in a normal state (S109: YES), the process
proceeds to S110.
[0060] In S110, the first microcomputer 51 determines whether the
IG is turned off or not. When it is determined that the IG is not
turned off (S110: NO), the process proceeds to S108. Thus, the
first microcomputer 51 continues the control of the driving of the
motor 10 as the engaged microcomputer. When it is determined that
the IG is turned off (S110: YES), the process proceeds to S111.
[0061] In S111, the first microcomputer 51 stores information
indicating that the self-microcomputer is the engaged microcomputer
used in the current trip in the non-illustrated memory. In this
case, the information stored is kept even while the IG is off.
Since the information indicating that the self-microcomputer is the
engaged microcomputer used in the current trip is held, when the IG
is turned on in the next time, it is possible to determine in S101
whether the self-microcomputer is the engaged microcomputer used in
the previous trip. After the determination in S101, this
information may be erased.
[0062] In S112, which is executed after the determination of the
self-microcomputer having the abnormality (S109: NO), the first
microcomputer 51 notifies the second microcomputer 52 as the other
microcomputer of the first microcomputer 51 having the
abnormality.
[0063] In S113, the first microcomputer 51 sets the abnormality
flag.
[0064] In S114, the first microcomputer 51 turns off the
self-microcomputer.
[0065] The switching of the engaged microcomputer of the present
embodiment will be described with reference to the time chart of
FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis is a common time axis. The
on and off states of the IG, the motor angle, the on and off states
of the first microcomputer 51, the on and off states of the second
microcomputer 52, the engaged microcomputer, the abnormality flag
are indicated from the top in FIG. 5. Note that the time scale is
suitably modified, and does not match with an actual time
scale.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, when the IG is turned on at a time x1,
the microcomputers 51 and 52 are turned on. In the trip beginning
from the time x1, it is assumed that the first microcomputer 51 is
the engaged microcomputer. In this case, therefore, the motor 10 is
controlled based on the command value computed by the first
microcomputer 51. In the present embodiment, the driving of the
motor 10 is controlled such that the actual angle 6 of the motor 10
coincides with the target angle e* determined in accordance with
the required shift range.
[0067] In a period from the time x1 at which the IG is turned on to
a time x2 at which the IG is turned off, the first microcomputer 51
is kept as the engaged microcomputer during this trip, unless an
abnormality occurs in the first microcomputer 51. Although the
second microcomputer 52 is turned on when the IG is turned on, the
second microcomputer 52 does not output a command value for the
driving of the motor 10. However, the second microcomputer 52 may
compute a command value in preparation for an occurrence of an
abnormality in the first microcomputer 51, or may refrain from
computing the command value until an abnormality occurs in the
first microcomputer 51.
[0068] At a time x3, when the IG is turned on again, the
microcomputers 51 and 52 are turned on. Since the first
microcomputer 51 was the engaged microcomputer in the previous
trip, the second microcomputer 52 is set to the engaged
microcomputer in the current trip. Therefore, the motor 10 is
controlled by the command value computed by the second
microcomputer 52.
[0069] As the microcomputers 51 and 52 are engaged alternately in
every trip, the reliability is ensured.
[0070] At a time x4, when an abnormality occurs in the second
microcomputer 52, the abnormality flag is set, and the process
proceeds to a failsafe mode. Specifically, the engaged
microcomputer is switched to the first microcomputer 51, so that
the motor 10 is controlled by the command value computed by the
first microcomputer 51. In this way, even if an abnormality occurs
in one of the microcomputers, it is possible to continue the
driving of the motor 10. Therefore, it is possible to switch the
shift range as in the normal time, and the evacuation travelling
performance can be ensured.
[0071] Further, the second microcomputer 52 having the abnormality
is turned off. Then, the occurrence of the abnormality is warned to
the user.
[0072] At a time x5, the IG is turned off. At a time x6, the IG is
turned on again. In the trip beginning from the time x6, although
the engaged microcomputer at the end of the previous trip was the
first microcomputer 51, the abnormality has occurred in the second
microcomputer 52 in the previous trip. Therefore, the first
microcomputer 51 is still set as the engaged microcomputer also in
the current trip. That is, in the present embodiment, once the
abnormality flag is set, the abnormality flag is kept, regardless
of the on and off of the IG, so as to keep the failsafe mode
without returning the second microcomputer 52 having the
abnormality, for example, until the repair finishes. Further, also
in the trip beginning from the time x6, the warning to the user is
continued so as to encourage the earlier repair
[0073] In the example of FIG. 5, the second microcomputer 52
corresponds to "abnormal control unit" and the first microcomputer
51 corresponds to "normal control unit".
[0074] Likewise, in a case where the first microcomputer 51 has an
abnormality, the failsafe mode is kept so as not to return the
first microcomputer 51, and the driving of the motor 10 is kept to
be controlled by the second microcomputer 52. In this case, the
first microcomputer 51 corresponds to "abnormal control unit" and
the second microcomputer 52 corresponds to "normal control
unit".
[0075] As described hereinabove, the shift range control device 40
of the present embodiment is configured to switch the shift range
of the vehicle by controlling the driving of the motor 10. The
shift range control device 40 includes the plurality of
microcomputers 51 and 52, and the plurality of monitoring ICs 56
and 57. The microcomputer 51 and 52 are configured to control the
driving of the motor 10. The monitoring ICs 56 and 57 are
correspondingly provided for the microcomputers 51 and 52 to
monitor abnormalities in the corresponding microcomputers 51 and
52. Specifically, the first monitoring IC 56 is provided for the
first microcomputer 51 to monitor an abnormality in the first
microcomputer 51. The second monitoring IC 57 is provided for the
second microcomputer 52 to monitor an abnormality in the second
microcomputer 52.
[0076] The driving of the motor 10 is controlled by one of the
microcomputers 51 and 52, which is in a normal state. If an
abnormality occurs in the microcomputer being used to control the
driving of the motor 10, the microcomputer to be used to control
the driving of the motor 10 is switched to any one of the other
microcomputers. Specifically, when an abnormality occurs in the
first microcomputer 51 while the first microcomputer 51 is being
used to control the driving of the motor 10, the microcomputer to
be used to control of the driving of the motor 10 is switched to
the second microcomputer 52. Likewise, when an abnormality occurs
in the second microcomputer 52 while the second microcomputer 52 is
being used to control the driving of the motor 10, the
microcomputer to be used to control of the driving of the motor 10
is switched to the first microcomputer 51.
[0077] In the present embodiment, since the shift range control
device 40 includes the plurality of microcomputers 51 and 52, when
at least one of the microcomputers 51 and 52 is in a normal state,
it is possible to continue the control of the driving of the motor
10 so that the control of the switching of the shift range is
continued. As such, even if an abnormality occurs in any of the
microcomputers 51 and 52, it is possible to ensure the evacuation
travelling performance.
[0078] If the driving of an actuator (the motor 10 in the present
embodiment) is controlled using the plurality of microcomputers 51
and 52, there is a fear that the efficiency of the actuator will
deteriorate due to a deviation in output timings of the commands
from the respective microcomputers 51 and 52. In the present
embodiment, even when the plurality of microcomputers 51 and 52 are
in the normal states, one microcomputer is used to control the
driving of the actuator. Therefore, the actuator can be properly
controlled without deteriorating the efficiency of the
actuator.
[0079] The shift range control device 40 switches the microcomputer
to be used to control the driving of the motor 10 between the
plurality of microcomputers 51 and 52, each time the IG of the
vehicle is turned on. In this case, the reliability of the
microcomputers when being switched can be ensured.
[0080] Two microcomputers 51 and 52 are used. In a case where one
microcomputer 52 has an abnormality and the other microcomputer 51
is in a normal state, the driving of the motor 10 is controlled by
the first microcomputer 51, which is in the normal state. When the
IG is turned on again after it was turned off, the control of the
driving of the motor 10 is continued by the first microcomputer 51
without returning the second microcomputer 52. In the present
embodiment, in a case where an abnormality is detected once, the
notification of the abnormality to the user is continued without
returning the microcomputer having the abnormality. In this case,
therefore, it is possible to encourage the use of an earlier
repair.
Other Embodiments
[0081] In the embodiment described hereinabove, the shift range
control device 40 has two control units and two monitoring units.
As another embodiment, the numbers of the control units and
monitoring units may be three or more. When all of the control
units are in normal states, it is preferable to alternately switch
the controls units so that one control unit is used in each trip,
in view of ensuring the reliability.
[0082] In the embodiment described hereinabove, a time interval
that begins from the time the starting switch is turned on and ends
at the time the starting switch is turned off is defined as one
trip, and the control unit to be used to control the driving of the
actuator is switched in every one trip. As another embodiment, a
time interval that begins from the time the IG is turned on and
ends at the time the IG is turned off is defined as one period, and
the one trip may be provided by a plurality of periods. The number
of periods included in the one trip may be fixed, or varied, for
example, according to a traveling distance of the vehicle or the
like.
[0083] In the embodiment described hereinabove, if the control unit
has an abnormality, the failsafe state is continued. The control
unit having the abnormality is not returned and is not used to
control the driving of the actuator. As another embodiment, when
the microcomputer having the abnormality is regularly returned due
to the restarting in accordance with the on and off of the starting
switch, the failsafe state may be released and the microcontroller
may be used to control the driving of the motor.
[0084] In the embodiment described hereinabove, the motor is
constituted by a permanent magnet type three-phase brushless motor.
As another embodiment, the motor may be any types of motor, such as
an SR motor. In the embodiment described hereinabove, two pairs of
the winding sets are included in the motor. As another embodiment,
one pair or three or more pairs of the winding sets of the motor
may be provided. In the embodiment described hereinabove, the
actuator is constituted by the motor. As another embodiment, the
actuator may be a device other than the motor.
[0085] In the embodiment described hereinabove, an encoder is used
as the rotation angle sensor for detecting the rotation angle of
the motor. As another embodiment, the rotation angle sensor may be
of any types such as a resolver, rather than an encoder.
[0086] In the embodiment described hereinabove, the four recesses
are formed in the detent plate. As another embodiment, the number
of the recesses is not limited to four, but may be any number. For
example, two recesses may be provided in the detent plate to allow
switching between P range and not-P range. The shift range
switching mechanism, the parking lock mechanism, and the like may
be different from the corresponding mechanisms of the embodiment
described hereinabove.
[0087] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments
described hereinabove. The present disclosure may be implemented in
various modes without departing from the gist of the present
disclosure.
[0088] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the
disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and constructions. The
present disclosure is intended to cover various modification and
equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various
combinations and configurations, other combinations and
configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are
also within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *